Dixie Women's Amateur: Schepperle holds off Thompson
Auburn photo
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (Jan. 4, 2009) -- Alexis Thompson is fast becoming the women's amateur golfer to watch, despite the fact she is only 14 years old. Last year she became second-youngest winner of the U.S. Girls' Junior at 13 years, 5 months, and was the runner-up for the American Junior Golf Association's Rolex Player of the Year title.
This year, Thompson got her 2009 off to a strong start by making a run at winning her second straight Dixie Women's Amateur in her hometown of Coral Springs, Fla., only to be turned back by a stroke by Auburn University junior Candace Schepperle.
Schepperle, a Birmingham native, entered the final day at Heron Bay Golf Club with a five-stroke lead after three consecutive rounds in the 60's, but could only manage a 70 on the final day of play.
Thompson made her move with a 6-under 66 final round, but fell one stroke short.
Schepperle finished at 14-under-par 274 (69-66-69-70) while Thompson finished at 13-under 275 (73-67-69-66).
"I’m very happy, it has been a while since I have won and I am very excited to have that under my belt," Schepperle told WHNT Huntsville. "I have been in that situation a lot, so it is nice to come out on top.
"This whole week was simple for me, I can’t really pinpoint too many thoughts that went through my head. I just tried to get back into the swing of things, back into golfing and playing tournaments."
Both golfers finished 2008 tied for the 19th in the amateurgolf.com - Bridgestone Golf Women's Player of the Year race, tallying 1400 points.
Carlie Yadloczky of Casselberry, Fla., took third at 11-under 277, while Kristina Wong and Annie Park tied for fourth at 9-under 279.
ABOUT THE
Dixie Women's Amateur
*The tournament field is full. A wait list has begun. Please email Rodion Gomez at rgomez@clublink.ca to add your name to the wait list*72-hole stroke invitational women's stroke play
championship. Field consists of
former Dixie
Amateur
Champions, and women from around the world
invited by the
Tournament Committee. (You may request an
invitation at
www.dixieamateur.com).
Tournament takes on extra
importance as one of the last major
international
amateur
events to be played
before the Augusta National Women's Amateur
(ANWA) determines their
ranking-based exemption list. The field limit will
be
108
players. Field
is cut after 54 holes to
the low 66 players and ties.
View Complete Tournament Information